What Lilac teaches us about Animal Sheltering today
COMMUNITY FOCUS — ANIMAL HOSPITAL
More than medicine ... changing lives every day
2026 TUXES & TAILS–BRAZIL, UNDER THE CANOPY Tickets and Sponsorships on sale now!
ABOUT TOWN – PARTIES FOR PETS Celebrating our shared love for animals
PINELLAS HIGHLIGHT – NEW PROGRAMS Strengthening human-animal bonds across the bay
HAPPY TAILS – ALUMNI UPDATES Happy "tails" from the adoption floor
LIFE SAVING PROGRAMS – KITTEN NICU Saving the littlest lives
LET'S END ON A HIGH NOTE – LONG-TIMER ADOPTED! Sometimes the perfect match is the one least expected FROM THE SHELTER— HELP ANIMALS THIS
Editor: Regan Blessinger
& THANKS
Layout and Design: Nash McCutchen
Contributors: Adam Goldberg founder of Stronger Shot Adoption Photos, Cristina Klein Photography, Valerie Hogan, Madison Kostka, Liz McCoy, Lisa Novorska, Sherry Silk, Madison Smith, Nate Swan, Ornella Varchi
Summer at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay is one of our busiest—and most rewarding—times of the year. The shelter is filled with wagging tails, curious kids, dedicated volunteers, and a community that continues to show up for animals when they need it most.
In this issue, you'll read about the current state of animal sheltering and the challenges facing organizations across the country. Pets are staying in shelters longer than they have in years past, and while every animal deserves to find a loving home as quickly as possible, we want you to know something important: while they're here, they're surrounded by care, compassion, and enrichment every single day.
A shelter should always be a stepping stone to a forever home, never a final destination. That's why our staff and volunteers work tirelessly to make each day as positive as possible for the animals in our care. You'll often find dogs racing through play yards, cooling off in kiddie pools, or enjoying one-on-one adventures with volunteers. Cats spend time exploring enrichment spaces, chasing toys, and soaking up affection from anyone willing to stop by for a cuddle.
Summer also brings one of our favorite programs, Critter Camp. Watching children learn about kindness and responsible pet care while spending time with our shelter animals is a reminder that compassion can be taught, nurtured, and passed on to the next generation. Young readers visit through our literacy programs to read stories aloud to shy dogs and cats, giving both the children and the animals a confidence boost. Corporate volunteer groups, families, foster parents, and community members all play a role in making life brighter for the pets waiting for their new beginning.
... while [homeless animals] are here, they're surrounded by care, compassion, and enrichment every single day.
None of this happens without you. Whether you volunteer your time, open your home as a foster, make a donation, or choose adoption, you are helping transform what could be a stressful chapter into one filled with hope, comfort, and love.
Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Together, we're not only helping animals find homes, we're making sure that every day they spend with us is filled with kindness until that special day arrives.
With gratitude,
Chief Executive Officer
Feature Story
WAITING FOR LOVE: What Lilac teaches us about Animal Sheltering today.
For 207 days, Lilac waited.
She watched other dogs arrive and leave. She greeted visitors day after day. She charmed staff and volunteers with her exuberant personality.
And still, she waited.
Then, after nearly seven months at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, everything changed. Alex and Chris came in specifically to meet her. By the end of the day, Lilac was heading home. There were tears. There were cheers. And there was an overwhelming sense of relief for a dog who had spent far too long wondering when it would finally be her turn.
Lilac's adoption is a happy ending worth celebrating. But it also raises an important question: Why did it take so long?
The answer says a lot about the current state of animal sheltering—not just in Tampa Bay, but across the country.
At 8 years old, Lilac wasn't what many people picture when they imagine a senior dog. She was energetic, playful, and full of life. While many adopters expect older dogs to be calm and content with short walks and long naps, Lilac still approached every day with enthusiasm. She wanted to play. She wanted to explore. She wanted to be part of the action.
Ironically, that may have worked against her. Too young to be considered a "true senior" by some adopters and too old to compete with puppies for attention, Lilac fell into a category that many shelter pets know all too well: overlooked. Lilac on her
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Contributing Factors to Increased Length of Stay in Shelters
Housing Restrictions
Many apartments and HOAs have breed or size restrictions, making it harder for potential adopters to take home large dogs.
Rising Costs
Inflation, the high cost of pet care, and "pet rent" fees imposed by landlords and housing complexes, have led to more owner surrenders and fewer households willing to adopt large dogs.
National Trends
Large dogs, in particular, spend about 70% more time in shelters than small dogs, creating persistent bottlenecks in kennel space.
Breed Stigmatization
Large mixed breeds and bully breeds often require a longer time to find a home without breed restrictions or specific housing requirements.
Lack of Spay/Neuter
Low spay and neuter rates is a primary driver of animal overpopulation and shelter bottlenecks in Florida. Unplanned litters heavily increase daily intake, while a statewide shortage of veterinarians causes massive surgery backlogs, meaning animals stay in shelters longer.
Information was sourced from the American Veterinary Association, University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program, and FOX 13 News.
Lilac's story reflects a larger challenge facing animal shelters today. Across the country, dogs are spending more time in shelters than they did just a few years ago. Adoptions remain strong in many communities, but they have not kept pace with the number of animals needing help. Economic uncertainty, housing restrictions, rising veterinary costs, lack of spay/neuter services, and shifting lifestyles have all contributed to longer lengths of stay for many pets.
As a result, shelters increasingly find themselves caring for animals not for days or weeks, but for months.
This isn't just a capacity issue. It's a community issue.
Animal shelters have evolved far beyond their traditional role as places where homeless pets wait for adoption. Today, shelters are often the frontline response to challenges involving housing, affordability, access to veterinary care, and pet retention. They serve as a safety net for animals, but also for the people who love them.
Yet even as these challenges grow, one truth remains unchanged: outcomes improve when communities get involved.
Lilac's story did not end happily because of luck. It ended happily because people showed up. Staff cared for her every day. Volunteers walked her, enriched her life, and advocated for her. Donors helped provide
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group of large breed dogs enjoy time in the play yard at the Pinellas campus. A bully breed mix waits patiently to be adopted at the Hillsborough campus
WAITING FOR LOVE – CONT.
the resources she needed during her lengthy stay. And ultimately, adopters were willing to look beyond a number on a kennel card and see the dog in front of them.
That is what animal sheltering has always been about.
The future of sheltering will depend not only on shelters themselves, but on communities embracing adoption, fostering, volunteering, and supporting the services that keep pets and families together. Every act of involvement creates more opportunities for animals waiting for their chance.
For 207 days, Lilac waited for someone to choose her.
Today, she's exactly where she belongs. Her story is a reminder that behind every long-term shelter resident is not a statistic, but an individual. And sometimes, changing a life is as simple as giving a pet the chance to be seen.
A large breed, high energy pup waits to be adopted at the Pinellas campus
An unwanted litter of large breed puppies takes a ride to the play yard at the Hillsborough campus.
MORE THAN MEDICINE: How HSTB's Animal Hospital Changes Lives Every Day.
When a small French Bulldog named Goldie showed up at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay's Animal Hospital this spring, she wasn't just looking for treatment. She was looking for a second chance.
The exhausted 2-year-old Frenchie had quite literally pawed at the hospital's doors in April. She was suffering from heat exposure, painful skin issues caused by demodex mange, and was still producing milk—a heartbreaking sign that she had likely recently been caring for puppies of her own.
She arrived scared, uncomfortable, and alone. But what happened next is exactly why the Humane Society of Tampa Bay's Animal Hospital exists. Goldie was immediately taken in by the veterinary team, who began treating her medical conditions while providing the comfort and compassion she desperately needed. After receiving care and spending time in a foster home, her transformation began. Her skin healed. Her energy returned. Her personality emerged.
Last week, Goldie left HSTB behind for the best possible reason: she was adopted into a loving home. Her story is remarkable, but it isn't unique. Every day, behind the scenes, the Animal Hospital serves as one of the most important engines driving the Humane Society of Tampa Bay's lifesaving mission. While community members often think of veterinary hospitals as places where pets receive routine care, HSTB's Animal Hospital is something more. It is a safety net for vulnerable animals and a critical resource that impacts nearly every corner of the organization.
Goldie receives gentle care at HSTB's Animal Hospital on the day she "knocked" on the door.
As shelters nationwide continue to face unprecedented challenges, HSTB has experienced an overwhelming influx of animals in need. The Animal Hospital has become instrumental in helping those pets move from shelter kennels to forever homes by performing spay and neuter surgeries, treating illnesses and injuries, and ensuring animals are healthy enough to begin the next chapter of their lives.
Without that work, adoptions would slow, shelter capacity would shrink, and fewer animals could be helped.
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The hospital's impact extends beyond dogs and cats waiting for families.
Each Monday, community cats arrive through HSTB's Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return program. While many are returned to the neighborhoods they call home, others are identified as ideal candidates for the shelter's Working Cat Program. These cats may not be suited for traditional indoor living, but they thrive in barns, warehouses, gardens, and businesses where they provide natural rodent control while receiving care and protection.
The Animal Hospital team helps make those placements possible, ensuring every cat is vaccinated, sterilized, and medically evaluated before beginning a new life in a working home.
Whether it's helping a lost French Bulldog find her family, preparing shelter pets for adoption, or creating opportunities for community cats to thrive, the Animal Hospital is often where transformation begins.
Most visitors never see the surgeries performed before sunrise, the medical treatments delivered behind exam room doors, or the countless animals whose lives are changed before they ever reach the adoption floor.
But every adoption, every reunion, and every happy ending is connected to the dedicated veterinary professionals who quietly make those stories possible.
Goldie's story may have started with a paw on the hospital door, but her happy ending began when someone answered it.
PARTIES FOR PETS: Celebrating our shared love for animals.
Throughout the year, HSTB hosts a variety of events that not only raise critical funds for lifesaving programs, but also celebrate the community’s shared commitment to helping animals in need. This spring, supporters gathered across Pinellas County for a season of memorable experiences, including a Garden Tea Party at The Vinoy, a lively Disco Night at Good Night John Boy, and an Amalfi-inspired Happy Tails evening at Home Port Marina.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, guests, and volunteers, proceeds from these events are helping provide care, shelter, and second chances for homeless pets at HSTB’s Pinellas and Hillsborough campuses. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us in making Tampa Bay a more humane place for animals.
HAPPY TAILS SPONSORS
Harbor Hero
Home Port Marina
Shoreline Savior
Helen & David Henwood
Anchor Advocate
Proshot Concrete. Inc.
Tide Turner
Flo Bellhorn
Keith & Yamil Winn - Your Home Sold Guaranteed
In-Kind
Bay Stage Live
Mail Marketing Services
The 15th Annual Happy Tails at Ozona Blue Grilling Company was an unforgettable waterfront evening featuring live music, dinner and dessert, lively games, a curated silent auction, and adorable adoptable animals!
A guest and an adoptable pet enjoy the event.
Helen Henwood and a friend pose with an adoptable puppy.
An adoptable pet enjoys being the center of attention.
Guests enjoyed a rousing auction to raise money for the animals.
ABOUT TOWN – CONT.
GARDEN TEA PARTY SPONSORS
Royal Tea
Frank Albert Realty and Compass Land & Title, LLC
Cheers Champion
Marina Kloppel - Coastal Properties Group
Chamomile Companion
Maxi-Blast of Florida, Inc.
The Meyer Family
Herbal Helper
Katie McCarey & Scott Savit
Vaco
In-Kind
Flor + Palma
The Garden Tea Party was a beautiful afternoon where guests indulged in delectable treats, sipped on fragrant teas, and mingled with adoptable pets in the lush Vinoy Tea Garden. Special thanks to the Donaldson Family for hosting this delightful affair for a great cause.
Jen Epstein and Annina Donaldson enjoy the festivities.
Helen Henwood visits with an adorable adoptable guest.
Katie McCarey sits for a caricature.
A NEW CHAPTER: Strengthening humananimal bonds across the bay
When the Humane Society of Tampa Bay expanded into Pinellas County, the goal was never just a new building—it was about bringing lifesaving services and community support to more people and pets. Today, that vision continues to grow.
Two beloved HSTB programs, Paws for Literacy and Animeals , have officially expanded into Pinellas County, marking an important milestone as the organization transforms its Pinellas location into a true community resource.
"We've seen firsthand how impactful these programs have been in Hillsborough County," said HSTB CEO Sherry Silk. "Now we're able to extend those benefits to even more people and pets across Tampa Bay."
Paws for Literacy invites children to read aloud to shelter animals. For many young readers, practicing in front of adults or classmates can feel intimidating, but shelter pets provide a judgment-free audience. The program helps children build confidence, strengthen reading skills, and become more comfortable speaking aloud. At the same time, the animals benefit from enrichment, social interaction, and reduced stress while awaiting adoption.
Animeals addresses another critical need. For many elderly and homebound residents, pets provide companionship, comfort, and purpose, but financial or transportation challenges can make accessing pet food difficult. Through Animeals, HSTB volunteers deliver pet food directly to residents, helping keep pets with the families who love them. The impact extends far beyond the deliveries themselves. A bag
of pet food can prevent a heartbreaking surrender, while a friendly visit can ease loneliness and preserve a bond that means everything to both person and pet.
Together, these programs reflect the evolving role of animal welfare. Success is measured not only by adoptions and medical care, but also by strengthening the human-animal bond and supporting families before a crisis occurs.
For HSTB Pinellas, the arrival of Paws for Literacy and Animeals represents an exciting new chapter— one that reaches beyond shelter walls and directly into the community. Whether helping a child gain confidence while reading to a shelter dog or ensuring a senior can continue caring for a cherished companion, these programs demonstrate what HSTB has always believed: when people and pets stay connected, entire communities grow stronger
HAPPY TAILS ALUMNI
After losing their beloved dog, Lexie, Valerie and her family opened their hearts to Bailey, who has quickly become part of the family. She's learned her new name, introduced herself to the neighborhood squirrels, and spends her days cuddling, giving kisses, and playing ball. Bailey has also bonded with her cousin Mia and proudly enjoys her collection of Gator toys.
From day one, Bailey has been surrounded by love, and it's clear she was meant to be part of this family. We're so happy to see her thriving and living the life every dog deserves.
LOKI
DAKOTA
Sometimes, the animals we're meant to have, find their way back to us. While volunteering at HSTB, Rebecca met a sweet yellow Lab named Dudley but was disappointed to learn he had already been adopted. But, when that adoption didn't work out and he returned to the shelter scared and trembling, she knew it was meant to be.
The very next day, Rebecca and her husband adopted him and renamed him Dakota. Despite a difficult recovery from heartworm treatment and a challenging adjustment, Dakota has blossomed into a happy, healthy dog. Today, he's thriving in the home that was always meant to be his.
Ashley and her family visited the Humane Society of Tampa Bay with no plans to adopt—just to spend time with the animals. But after meeting Loki, their three boys quickly formed a bond they couldn't ignore.
Since joining the family in January, Loki has brought endless joy, laughter, and even a little mischief. Whether he's playing with the boys or sneaking snacks when no one is looking, he's become a beloved member of the family.
"What we thought would be a simple visit turned into one of the best decisions we've ever made," Ashley shared.
PROGRAMS –
THE LITTLEST LIVES: Inside HSTB's new Kitten NICU.
Every spring, it begins.
A tiny kitten found alone beneath a shed. A litter discovered in a backyard. Newborns arriving without their mother, eyes still closed and dependent on human care for survival.
For animal welfare organizations, it is known simply as "kitten season"—the time of year when shelters become inundated with vulnerable young kittens in need of immediate care.
At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, kitten season is no longer measured in dozens of kittens. It's measured in hundreds.
Today, more than 500 kittens are being cared for in foster homes across the Tampa Bay area, each one representing a life that might not have survived without intervention. Some arrived healthy but homeless. Others came to HSTB weighing only a few ounces, requiring bottle feedings every few hours and constant monitoring to make it through their first weeks of life.
Saving kittens this fragile takes more than good intentions. It takes infrastructure, expertise, and an extraordinary community willing to step forward when help is needed most.
That's why the opening of HSTB's new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit couldn't have come at a more critical time. Designed specifically for the shelter's smallest and most medically fragile patients, the NICU provides a dedicated space where newborn and at-risk kittens can receive specialized care during their most vulnerable days. For many of these kittens, the first few weeks of life are the difference between survival and loss.
Two years ago, Juliette Selman (pictured above and below) donated supplies that helped us create a mini NICU in our exam room. Now collegebound, Juliette and her family have made another generous gift, allowing us to dedicate an entire room to our most vulnerable kittens. Last month we were honored to celebrate the ribbon cutting with volunteers, board members, Juliette, and her mom, Katie. Thank you to everyone who helped make this life-saving space possible.
Pictured above from left: Katie McCarey, Juliette Selman, Scott Savitt (Board Member), Sarah Glaser (Board Member at Large), and Helen Henwood (Board Member).
Katie McCarey and Juliette Selman with two NICU kittens.
The NICU gives HSTB the ability to respond to that challenge with greater precision and capacity than ever before.
But while the technology and equipment are important, the true story of kitten season isn't found in the incubators. It's found in living rooms, spare bedrooms, and laundry rooms throughout Tampa Bay. Behind every kitten who eventually bounds onto the adoption floor is a foster family who said "yes;" Yes to midnight feedings. Yes to weighing tiny kittens every day. Yes to medications, messes, and sleepless nights.
More than 500 kittens currently depend on that network of foster caregivers, making HSTB's foster program one of the most powerful lifesaving tools the organization has.
The partnership between the NICU and foster families creates something remarkable: a pathway from crisis to comfort. A newborn kitten may arrive frightened and fragile. The veterinary team stabilizes them. The NICU provides specialized support. A foster family opens its home. Weeks later, that same kitten is healthy, playful, and ready to find a family.
The transformation can feel miraculous. Yet during kitten season, it happens hundreds of times. As the summer months continue, more kittens will arrive at HSTB's doors seeking the same chance. Some will require intensive medical care. Others will need nothing more than a safe place to grow. All of them will need people willing to help.
The new NICU represents a significant step forward in HSTB's ability to save the tiniest lives. Combined with the dedication of foster families, veterinary staff, and volunteers, it ensures that more kittens than ever before have the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.
In the midst of kitten season's chaos, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay is building thousands of tiny futures every day: one kitten at a time.
FIND OUT MORE
about our life-saving foster program and how to get involved!
AS TEMPERATURES RISE, SO DO ANIMALS' NEEDS Help HSTB weather the hot, scarce summer
Summer can be one of the most challenging seasons for homeless animals.
While the need for shelter and care remains constant, adoptions and donations often slow down as families travel and settle into busy summer schedules. At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, we're also seeing many animals stay in our care longer before finding their forever homes. Every extra day means additional costs for food, medical care, enrichment, and the dedicated staff who ensure each pet receives the love and attention they deserve.
That's why your support is especially important right now.
A gift today helps provide a safe place for animals waiting for a second chance and ensures they receive the care they need while they search for a family to call their own. Your generosity helps us continue lifesaving work through the summer months and beyond.
Together, we can give every homeless pet hope, healing, and the opportunity for a brighter future. Thank you for making that possible.
$395
Average cost of care for one shelter animal.
3,539
Number of homeless animals saved by HSTB during summer 2025.
$1,397,905 Cost of animal care during summer 2025 TO SAVE MORE ANIMALS THIS SUMMER
LANA After spending more than three months at HSTB, sweet 6-year-old Lana finally found the family she was waiting for. She briefly went to a home, but returned just a few days later—proof that the right match was still out there. When James came in looking for a dog, he had his eye on someone younger. But after meeting Lana and hearing from multiple staff members about what a special, beloved dog she is, he couldn't resist. After checking in with his parents and roommates, James made it official. Sometimes the perfect dog is the one you never expected— and we couldn't be happier that Lana finally found the home she deserved.
